Leading telecommunications company Airtel announced that it plans to invest an additional $615 million in the Democratic Republic of Congo in the next three years.

Over the years Airtek has made investments worth more than $1billion in the DRC.

These include investments in youth education which has seen three schools in Kinshasa, Kasai-Oriental and Bas-Congo benefit from Airtel’s adopt a school programme.

Tryphon Kin-Kiey Mulumba, telecommunications and ICT minister, said investments made by Airtel in the country have been amazing.

“Our country is very large and the potential is huge. We, as the government, are under the obligation to make available the essential infrastructures to enable operators like Airtel and others to continue investing in our country and improve national coverage," he said.

Mulumba also said government has clear instructions for an immediate sale of the 3G license to telecom operators and completion of the Optical fiber landing station.

Antoine Pamboro, managing director, Airtel DRC, said while 60% of the Congolese population is covered there is still a lot more potential.

He also explained Airtel’s willingness to take up 25% participation of the company to be set up to manage the Optical Fiber in the DRC.